The Role of Insurance in Public Health

3 units

The Public Health System focuses on the access and delivery for all Americans, with a special focus on the uninsured, those living in poverty and located in rural areas. Managed Care is playing an ever-increasing role in government sponsored healthcare including Medicaid, Medicare and Exchanges. Because populations historically taken care of by the public health system have a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and costly health conditions, managed care companies have taken innovative steps to control costs. Not only is it important for students to understand the basics of health insurance, but also the tools that payers use to manage and control costs including case management, utilization review, and formulary structure. Additionally understanding technology infrastructure, coordinated primary care delivery models and value-based contracting is essential to any leader in the public health space. Communicating these concepts to community partners, patients and the media is also a critical skill set.